> </head> <body class='post-template tag-wada tag-china tag-state-doping tag-propaganda tag-chinada tag-world-aquatics tag-global-athlete tag-fairsport tag-eric-cottier tag-usada tag-good-governance tag-hajo-seppelt tag-nick-butler tag-tariq-panja tag-rich-perelman tag-conflict-of-interest tag-kellerhals-carrard tag-tmz tag-travis-tygart tag-ross-wenzel tag-all-articles tag-florian-wellbrock tag-craig-lord tag-christoph-becker'> <a href='#main' class='c-skip'>Skip to content</a> <header class='c-header'> <div class='c-header__top'> <div class='o-grid c-header__top-inner'> <div class='c-header__top-block c-header__top-left'> <button data-ghost-search class='c-header__button c-header__button--search' aria-label=
Sign In Subscribe
wada — china — state doping — propaganda — chinada — world aquatics — global athlete — fairsport — eric cottier — usada — good governance — hajo seppelt — nick butler — tariq panja — rich perelman — conflict of interest — kellerhals carrard — tmz — travis tygart — ross wenzel — articles — florian wellbrock — craig lord — christoph becker

The fairy tale of an independent investigation into Chinese doping

The champagne corks are popping at the headquarters of the World Anti Doping Agency and in Beijing. A so-called investigator has delivered the desired result in response to two questions posed by his client. WADA has allegedly done everything right. But in fact all questions remain unanswered.

,   and  Jens Weinreich
13 min read
WADA service provider Eric Cottier in 2020, when he was still Attorney General of the Olympic canton of Vaud, where the judiciary traditionally cosies up to the IOC and the Olympic family. (Photo: IMAGO / Pacific Press)

Revelations and genuine investigations into the alleged mass doping in Chinese swimming were not to be expected from the Swiss Eric Cottier. His assignment was limited to two questions, the answers to which were clear from the outset.

Eric Cottier may be a sincere person who takes his job seriously – but let's not kid ourselves: here he is just one piece of the puzzle in the big game. An object, so to speak, with a special role that is reliably fulfilled.

All reports and claims that Cottier acted as an independent prosecutor are simply false. Just read and don't talk rubbish:

Cottier was not acting as a prosecutor in this case. Can he seriously be described as independent? There are reasonable doubts as Craig Lord described not only once:

WADA Tested On State Of Independence In Go-Free-23 Chinese Doping Positives Inquiry - StateOfSwimming
WADA is facing questions over connections that are too close to comfort if ‘independent’ is to hold hands with trust.
StateOfSwimmingCraig Lord

You have to constantly counter this propaganda of independent investigations, because that is part of the big game in Lausanne and the surrounding area: spending a hell of money on lawyers and other types who deliver the desired results in very limited assignments – which in turn confirm to their clients that they have done everything right. In the meantime, a veritable industry has developed, with the same people who rarely achieve anything outstanding. Incidentally, this also applies to Richard McLaren and his investigators, in some cases – but that's for another time.

So these were the tasks that Cottier was given by WADA:

  1. Is there any indication of bias towards China, undue interference or other impropriety in WADA's assessment of the decision by CHINADA not to bring forward anti-doping rule violations against the 23 Chinese swimmers?
  2. Based on a review of the case file related to the decision by CHINADA not to bring forward anti-doping rule violations against the 23 Chinese swimmers, as well as any other elements that WADA had at its disposal, was the decision by WADA not to challenge on appeal the contamination scenario put forward by CHINADA a reasonable one?

And these are, unsurprisingly, Cottier's claims, some may call it findings:

This post is for subscribers only

Subscribe

Already have an account? Sign In

Related

Revolt of the Olympic working class
parallel society

Revolt of the Olympic working class

No Olympic athletes went on strike on the day that the staff at the sinfully expensive IOC hotel L'hôtel du Collectionneur went on strike, but swimming legends once again made it clear that their trust in the so-called fight against doping and the anti-doping system has been lost.

,   and  Craig Lord ,   and  Jens Weinreich
Members Public

Latest

Is Hockey president Tayyab Ikram collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal commissions from the Olympic Solidarity fund?
integrity artists

Is Hockey president Tayyab Ikram collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal commissions from the Olympic Solidarity fund?

The corruption allegations against the president of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) are serious and bizarre. The case affects not only the FIH, but also OCA, as well as the IOC's core business: Olympic Solidarity. And here, as with several other IFs, the IOC is not taking action.

,   and  Jens Weinreich
Members Public